Laura D. Daron

Laura D. Daron serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a critical role in executing the lifecycle acquisition of advanced naval aviation systems. Responsible for planning, soliciting, awarding, and administering complex contracts, she supports NAVAIR’s mission to modernize carrier-based and expeditionary aircraft, weapons systems, and avionics infrastructure. Her portfolio primarily encompasses engineering services and guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing, ensuring technical readiness and operational superiority for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. She manages procurements under full and open competition, with a strong focus on mission-critical technology integration and sustainment. Daron maintains consistent working relationships with leading defense prime contractors including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with firms that deliver high-assurance aerospace and defense systems. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, risk mitigation, and technical compliance, often involving complex systems integration, test and evaluation, and logistics support. She collaborates closely with engineering and program management teams to align contractual requirements with operational needs, ensuring timely delivery of mission-enabling capabilities. While the majority of her acquisitions—85.7%—are conducted under full and open competition, she consistently prioritizes small business participation through Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-asides, accounting for 14.3% of her awards. This reflects a deliberate commitment to expanding opportunities for qualified veteran-owned firms while maintaining rigorous performance standards. Her socioeconomic contracting patterns demonstrate balanced support for national defense priorities and statutory small business goals. Her technical focus centers on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) and 336414 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in avionics, propulsion systems, missile defense architectures, and mission-critical support services. She procures advanced hardware, software integration, test instrumentation, and sustainment solutions essential to maintaining air dominance across maritime and expeditionary theaters.